Rubber glove



Jan. 10, 1933. J sMlTH 1,894,066

RUBBER GLOVE Filed Feb. 18, 1951 3% 13am 21MTaww Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATENT: OFFICE N 3'. SMITH, OI BAVENNA, OHIO RUBBER GLOVE Application filed February 18, 193i. Serial 30. 818,685.

This invention relates to improvements in rubber gloves, which are used for protecting the hands from high voltage electric currents or acids, or for any other occupation 5 in which it is necessary to protect the hands while they are being used for the purpose of grasping tools or other objects.

To obtain the desired degree of protectlon, it is necessary to utilize rubber of adequate thickness, but as the thickness increases, it becomes more difiicult to bend the glove to gras a tool or other object." To overcome the atigue resulting from such muscular effort, it is necessary to compress the rubber on the inside and expand it on the outside of the hand. This is very noticeable, particular? when the gloves are worn for substantia y the entire day, and the difference between the fatigue that results from the use of different gloves is sufficient to warrant the selection of one glove instead of another.

An object of the present invention therefore, is to so shape the rubber glove that 1n its normal position, it facilitates the grasping of a tool, or other object without requiring the rubber on the inside of the hand to be unduly compressed, and that on the outer side to be unduly stretched.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a glove embod ing my invention; Fig. 2' is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

I have shown the glove 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 in the normal position. At such time, the fingers 11 all lie in substantially the same plane without any curvature from the ti 3 to the base knuckles. Furthermore, such p ane is inclined to the back of the hand, as is shown in Fig. 2. This slight bend enables the fingers to be held comfortably in relaxed position, and yet permits them to be bent conveniently to grasp an object without objectionable compressing of the rubber on one silde and stretching it on the other side of the gove.

The position of the thumb in a glove of this character is an important feature, for the thumb plays an important part in the work that is normally performed with the glove.

I facilitate the use of the thumb by turning it inwardly, as is shown in Fig. 1, until the base 12 is disposed substantially in front of the index finger. I then incline the tip of the thumb toward the fingers and thus provide a pocket 13, which enables an article or tool to be conveniently grasped without undue ef fort. Furthermore, by turnin the thumb to the 'osition shown, the midd e part of the ban presents a hollowed appearance and adds greatly to the comfort of the wearer.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, gloves of this character have been elliptical in cross section with the major axis of the ellipse extending from the front to the back of the finger. I have found however, that such arrangement increases the difliculty of bending the fingers and that this objection can be remedied by extending-the major axis across the fingers, as is shown in Fig. 3. This rearrangement facilitates the movement of the fingers and coactswith the other characteristics heretofore enumerated to make a glove that has been found very desirable and satis-' factory in use.

I claim 1. A rubber glove having at least one of the finger portions elliptical in cross section with the major axis of the elli se extending transversely of the finger and the minor axis extending from thefront to the back of the finger.

2. A rubber glove having all of the fingers lying substantially in a common plane and havlng said plane inclined to the plane of the backof the hand, and having the thumb turned inwardl until the base is disposed in front of the in ex finger, and having the tip of the thumb turned inwardly whereby a tool or article receiving ocket is formed between the thumb and m ex finger, and having all of the fingers elliptical in cross-section,

with the major axis of the ellipse extending transversely of the fingers and the minor axis extending from the front to the back of the fingers.

In testimony/whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

EMERSON J. SMITH. 

